For now, the centuries-long war between mortalkind and the Aesir is quiet. Yet not over. With the coming of winter, a season in which the Aesir thrive, they will resurface. Only two people, united by magic, can stop them. But first they’ll have to survive more imminent threats to their lives.
Robinson Hawksley is of the tragic belief that his beloved wife, McKenna, has perished in a sorcerer’s fire—just as he is about to ascend to the highest rank in the magic order of the Invisible College. But as Robinson navigates political machinations, deception, and betrayal, not everything is as it seems. McKenna, a woman of uncanny mysteries, has been abducted as an offering to the Aesir that promises to end the invasion once and for all. Now she is running for her life.
To reunite, Robinson and McKenna have so much to learn about themselves and each other. Amid secrets, sacrifices, and long-dormant memories restored, they still hold the power to save the world.
–From the back cover of The Alchemy of Fate.
What Is The Violence of Sound and Master of the Royal Secret?
The Alchemy of Fate and Master of the Royal Secret are the latest novels by Jeff Wheeler, the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over 40 novels set in several different worlds including Muirwood, Kingsfountain, and even our modern world. Many of these worlds are similar to our own throughout different historical periods. However, there is always an element of magic within them. The Alchemy of Fate is the third novel in the Invisible College series. This time the story is set in an 1800’s European like world with the large city of Auvinen having some similarities to London of the time. There is a steampunk type feel to the setting. However, the mechanical and industrial creations are not powered by steam, but by sorcerers wielding magic. Unlike magic in many other stories, the magic in The Alchemy of Fate is based on music and incantations are sung with specific notes and pitches. While the magic originally came from the mysterious, ancient Aesir, humans have learned to harness it not only for their benefit, but also for protection against the powerful enemy.
The story follows the three main characters. Robinson Foster Hawksley is a sorcerer, professor, and inventor who was left sickly after surviving one of the Aesir created plagues. However, while teaching at the University, he has also been inventing a device on his own that will allow the human armies to detect the enemy Aesir on the battlefield despite their magical cloaks that render them invisible. McKenna Aurora Hawksley, who was rendered deaf from one such illness, was a former student of Hawksley’s lessons on elocution so she can learn to speak properly despite not being able to hear. She is now married to Robinson and supports him in his experiments while also worried she may be harboring an Aesir intelligence within her known as a Semblance. Finally, the novel flashes back to Isaac Berrow, the Keeper of the Royal Secret, to a time 15 years before he founded the Invisible College. This allows the reader to learn more about the purpose of the Invisible College as well as the Semblance of the Erlking’s daughter, Eirika.
Master of the Royal Secret takes place 23 years after the events in The Alchemy of Fate. Issac Berrow has returned (I will not reveal how and why because that will spoil the story in The Alchemy of Fate. He and Eirika must find one another and complete their task in order to end the war with the Aesir and save humanity. Unlike the previous three novels, magic and sorcerers have been outlawed and all music either forbidden or strictly controlled by the government. No longer are machines powered by magic, but now by coal and steam. Sorcerers who had been the main protectors of the people from Aesir attacks are either imprisoned or in hiding. During the 23 years, the Aesir have returned to their slumber in the north, but are about to awaken for a final fight against humanity.
Why Should You Read The Alchemy of Fate and Master of the Royal Secret?
Over the past nine years, I have read every novel by Jeff Wheeler. Last year I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of the first novel of a new series. I became hooked with the novel while just reading the seven page Prologue. From that point on, I had a hard time putting it down until I reached the final page. I thoroughly enjoyed The Invisible College and reviewed it back in November of 2024 and The Violence of Sound that was released in April of this year. Unlike some of settings of Wheeler’s other series, many of which are set during a medieval time period, The Alchemy of Fate and Master of the Royal Secret are set in a world with a feel of Victorian England where magic is the source of power for all their technology. Wheeler does a wonderful job of not only creating a unique setting, but also immersing the reader into that setting.
In addition to the settings of the story, Wheeler continues his mastery of character development. In each of his novels, his characters not only have strengths but also imperfections and challenges which they must overcome. Along the way, the reader not only gets to know the characters, but develops their own relationships with them so by the end of the novel, it feels like a farewell–until the next novel. Finally and most importantly, this series offers a wonderful story of magic, intrigue, and romance that will keep you engaged right up to the thrilling final pages that will leave you wanting more.
I have had the opportunity to read both The Alchemy of Fate and Master of the Royal Secret before they were released. I am so grateful that Wheeler is releasing both of these novels on the same day because The Alchemy of Fate leaves readers with a dramatic and surprising ending that I would not have wanted to wait months to find out what happens next. In both of these books, as I approached the end of each novel, the action comes to a crescendo and I could not put them down until I had reached the end. While I have enjoyed every book I have read by Jeff Wheeler, there were some series I liked better than others. I can honestly say that The Invisible College series is my current favorite. As I mentioned earlier, I was hooked from the first pages of the first novel and have looked forward to each subsequent novel and never been disappointed. As this series comes to an end, the story seems to have links to some of Wheeler’s other worlds (which have been linked together in previous series) and he offers some teasers that the story will not end but might continue with interactions between worlds. I am excited to learn more about his future projects.
If you have not yet read The Invisible College, then be sure to read it first. For those who have read novels by Jeff Wheeler before, you don’t want to miss this one. If you have never read his works, this is a great series to start. The Alchemy of Fate and Master of the Royal Secret are published by 47North and are now available for sale directly from Amazon. The hardcover edition and the paperback edition both sell for $17 each, and the Kindle versions for only $5.99 each. Also, if you subscribe to Jeff Wheeler’s newsletter, he will send you bonus chapters from The Invisible College series in both epub and audio formats. These are chapters that provide some additional background on the main characters and help prepare readers for The Alchemy of Fate and Master of the Royal Secret. Plus US-based Amazon customers will also get a free copy of the e-book for The Invisible College to help you get started with the series.
Disclosure: GeekDad received copies of The Alchemy of Fate and Master of the Royal Secret for review purposes. Jeff Wheeler is an acquaintance of mine from the past. However, this has not influenced my review of this novel.
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